Feeler rod for paint roller



May 7, 1963 e. LUCAS 3,088,152

FEELER ROD FOR PAINT ROLLER Filed Aug. 15, 1960 INVENTOR. GEORGE LUCAS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,088,152 FEELER ROD FOR PAINT ROLLER George Lucas, 986 Morningview Drive, Tallmadge, Ohio Filed Aug. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 49,686 3 Claims. (Cl. 1523tl) This invention relates to a feeler rod for a paint roller, and a roller equipped with one or more such feelers. The roller is constructed with the usual cylindrical applicator. The one or more so-called feelers are so mounted in connection with the cylinder as to prevent the cylinder when used on one surface from contacting a surface adjacent to it.

One objection to the use of paint rollers has been the likelihood of transfer of paint from the applicator to a surface which is situated at an angle to the surface that is being painted. Thus, it has been diflicult to use a roller on a wall without transferring paint from the applicator to the ceiling, and it has been diificult to use the roller on the ceiling and not transfer paint to a wall. Also, if adjacent vertical walls are to be painted a different color, it has been difficult to paint one wall without transferring paint to the other wall at the corner where the two walls meet.

The feeler of this invention prevents the applicator while used on one surface from contacting a surface that meets it at an angle. The applicator can be used close to the corner between two surfaces but does not and cannot cover the surface up to the corner at which the two surfaces meet. This corner surface must be painted with a paint brush.

A single feeler can be used with a roller, or two or more feelers can be utilized. It is customary for the support means of the roller to be afiixed to only one end of the applicator cylinder. This leaves the other end of the cylinder exposed, so that it is easily separated from its support and replaced by a different one which may be of a different diameter. The support means, at just a short distance from the cylinder, is ordinarily bent sharply perpendicularly to the axis of the cylinder and then parallel to the cylinder and near it. The distance from the support means to the axis of the cylinder is such that cylinders of different diameters can be used with the same support means. Said parallel portion of the support means usually extends to about the midpoint of the cylinder and then it is customarily bent sharply at right angles away from the cylinder. The latter portion may serve as a handle and it may have a handle attached to it, and oftentimes the end of it is provided with means for the attachment of an extension so that the roller can be used for painting high ceilings or other inaccessible areas.

The feeler attachment of this invention is prefer-ably fastened to this perpendicular extension of the support means, although it may be attached to the handle (if one is provided), or in any other suitable place. The attachment extends to the other side of the cylinder and projects a slight distance from it so that its end (referred to herein as the feeler) prevents contact between the cylinder and an adjacent surface. Ordinarily the end of the extension is looped to form the feeler to provide a surface of contact which cannot damage the wall it touches. The portion of the extension adjacent the feeler is ordinarily curved on a radius somewhat larger than that of the largest cylinder that will be utilized so that the extension does not contact whatever cylinder is employed. The feeler extension is advantageously adjustably fastened to the handle means so that the feeler can be extended somewhat when larger cylinders are employed, and retracted somewhat when smaller cylinders are employed, so that in all instances it will be spaced about the same distance from the surface of the cylinder.

The invention will be further described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- FIG. 1 is a View in perspective of the roller With the feeler attached;

FIG. 2 is an elevation showing how the position of the feeler can be adjusted for use with cylinders of different diameters;

FIG. 3 is a section of the adjustable attaching means on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section through alternative attaching means; and

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of a roller equipped with double feeler means.

The cylinder 1 has a nap or sponge surface adapted for the application of paint. The support means extends axially from one end of the cylinder at 2, and is then bent to form a section 3 perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder. Portion 4 of the support means is substantially parallel to the axis of the cylinder. The portion 5 extends perpendicularly from the cylinder at substantially its midpoint. The handle 6 is attached to this portion and its outer end may be provided with means for the attachment of a pole or other extension so that the roller can be used for the painting of high ceilings, etc.

The feeler extension shown is of very simple construction. It includes the portion 10, which is preferably a stiff metal rod of small diameter, which is parallel to the portion 5 of the support means. The semi-circular portion 11 extends from this portion to the feeler 12 which is constituted merely of a looped end of the rod.

The feeler is attached to the support means by any simple clamping arrangement. The drawings show two clamping plates 15 held together by the stud 16 and the wing nut 17. The clamping plates are placed on opposite sides of the portions 5 and 10 of the two members, and are clamped together by tightening the wing nut 17.

Alternately, a clamping plate 21) (FIG. 4) can be welded or otherwise fastened to the portion 10 of the feeler extension. The free end of this clamping plate is looped around the portion 5 of the handle means, and a stud 22 passing through openings in opposite portions of the clamping plate is provided with a wing nut. By tightening the wing nut, the feeler is held in position.

In the drawings, the feeler extension is shown as being above the portion 5. It can equally well be located beside the portion 5.

If the cylinder 1 is replaced by the large cylinder 30, the feeler extension is shifted forward a short distance, as indicated in FIGURE 2, so that the feeler 12 can always be situated at the same distance from the surface of the cylinder. The semi-circular portion 11 accommodates cylinders of all sizes.

The alternative structure shown in FIG. 5 shows a branched feeler extension with an attaching portion 40 parallel to the portion 5 of the handle means and branches 41. Each branch is provided at its outer end with a feeler 42. Thus feelers are provided at both ends of the roller. Any number of feelers can be provided, situated as desired.

The extension shown is adjustable to accommodate cylinders of different sizes and to space the feeler 12 any desired distance in front of the cylinder. It will be appreciated that instead of clamping the feeler perpendicularly above the support portion 5, if it is located beside this portion the feeler 12 is brought down more nearly in line with the axis of the cylinder. Thus the position of the feeler extension is adjustable not only longitudinally of itself but also the feeler at its end is adjustable radially of the cylinder.

The invention is covered in the claims which follow.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a paint roller which includes a cylinder and support means extending axially from one end of the cylinder, which support means includes a portion parallel to the axis of the cylinder, and a further portion extending therefrom substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the cylinder; a narrow, stiflf feeler extension which lies generally in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder and is movably attached to said portion of the support means perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder, which extension includes an end feeler portion near the side of the cylinder generally opposite to said support means and includes a generally semi-circular portion with a radius larger than the radius of the cylinder and embracing at least a part of the cylinder.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which there is one of the cylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,901,908 Hoyos Mar. 21, 1933 1,993,975 Myers Mar. 12, 1935 2,537,468 Lanius Jan. 9, 1951 2,582,861 Coombs Jan. 15, 1952 2,797,427 Tate July 2, 1957 2,835,915 Pearson May 27, 1958 Katanich June 10, 1958 "aim 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A PAINT ROLLER WHICH INCLUDES A CYLINDER AND SUPPORT MEANS EXTENDING AXIALLY FROM ONE END OF THE CYLINDER, WHICH SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDES A PORTION PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE CYLINDER, AND A FURTHER PORTION EXTENDING THEREFROM SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY TO THE AXIS OF THE CYLINDER; A NARROW, STIFF FEELER EXTENSION WHICH LIES GENERALLY IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF THE CYLINDER AND IS MOVABLY ATTACHED TO SAID PORTION OF THE SUPPORT MEANS PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF THE CYLINDER, WHICH EXTENSION INCLUDES AN END FEELER PORTION NEAR THE SIDE OF THE CYLINDER GENERALLY OPPOSITE TO SAID SUPPORT MEAND AND INCLUDES A GENERALLY SEMI-CIRCULAR PORTION WITH A RADIUS LARGER THAN THE RADIUS OF THE CYLINDER AND EMBRACING AT LEAST A PART OF THE CYLINDER. 